Shawn Levy to Direct Will Smith's Revived 'The City That Sailed'

There's a good chance you don't remember The City That Sailed because it's one of those Will Smith projects that never came to be. Back in 2010 he was set to star in the magical adventure film helmed by his I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence and Andrew Niccol (Gattaca) penning the script. But then something called Men in Black 3 came along, and Smith took that on instead. Now the project is back on, albeit with some significant changes behind the camera.

Deadline reports that Smith will topline the film, which now has Shawn Levy (Real Steel) directing and Audrey Wells (Under the Tuscan Sun) scripting. The simplified version of the story has a father and estranged daughter on the island of Manhattan as it breaks free and sails across the Atlantic Ocean. The fuller version, or at least the version that was initially pitched, has the daughter living in London and causing Manhattan to break loose and sail across the ocean when her wish to be reunited with her father is granted by magic candles.

Levy, who also directed the Night at the Museum movies, is the guy to call when family-friendly entertainment is the goal, so that's probably what we can expect. No word on when this will roll but it won't be before Levy is finished with Night at the Museum 3.